Sammy dangles cash carrot for WTC top-five push

West Indies head coach Darren Sammy is dangling extra financial incentives to motivate his players to break into the top five of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings as they prepare for a two-Test series against Bangladesh.

The Caribbean side, once a dominant force in Test cricket, finished eighth in each of the previous two WTC cycles and currently occupy the same position, with just two wins from 12 matches in the ongoing campaign.

Sammy hopes the prospect of a higher finish and a share of the ICC’s WTC prize money will bring the best out of his players.

“I have told the boys that there is extra financial incentive if we can finish in the top five of this Test Championship. The ICC has invested a lot of money in prize money for the World Test Championship,” Sammy told reporters at the SBNCS on Monday.

“We have an opportunity to move up from eighth place. We finished eighth in the previous two cycles.”

Bangladesh, meanwhile, sit fourth in the current standings with three wins from six matches. Two victories against the West Indies at home would strengthen the hosts’ position.

The WI head coach views the series as a significant opportunity to finish the current cycle on a positive note. The West Indies will also draw confidence from their 2-0 Test series victory in Bangladesh four years ago.

“These two Tests are a great opportunity for us. We have a chance to fulfil the objectives we set when we began this WTC cycle in 2025 and finish it strongly,” Sammy said.

“We will respect our opponents, analyse them and develop plans that will help us win. I am confident we can do that here.”